“Work For The Honour Of God; Do Not Seek To Gain Honour For Yourself!”

“Work For The Honour Of God; Do Not Seek To Gain Honour For Yourself!”
The world has set its standards by which to measure a person’s worth. As one climbs the academic ladder there is an expected paradaigm shift on perspective towards a positive and improved direction. So to say, academics is a quest for truth, which when found must be submitted at the feet of God.
It is said that the more you know, the more you realise that you know nothing and this humbles you before the Only One who has answers to the unanswerable and explanations to the unexplainable!
While this is the expected outcome, it is often the reverse as the world is often deceived that the more you know, the more you come to know that there is no God. Ofcourse, “the fool says in his heart there is no God…”
As Jesus began to teach in the temple courts, “The Jews were amazed and asked, ‘How did this man get such learning without having studied?'” The acquisition of wisdom for spiritual depth does not come through learning that has disregard for God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
Like the Jews of old we too are amazed and wonder where that young son of a carpenter acquired such learning without having sat at the feet of great scholars? You know, the Havards and Leeds, just like the Bobans and Sakeretes, etc would boast about their alma maters, but not all of them may exhibit the same traits characteristic of alumnus of such prestigious institutions.
Jesus says he teaches only what comes from the one who sent him. It is only those who choose to do God’s will who can be able to find out if his teaching comes from God or whether he is speaking on his own.
In this text Jesus conveys a fundamental truth to guide those who speak and act for the Lord. At the same time it is a yardstick by which to assess those who speak and act for the Lord. “He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth…”(Jn. 7:14-18).
No doubt Jesus was talking about himself, but it is helpful to us too in this generation as we speak and work for him.
My friend, when you speak and work for “in gods name” for whom do you seek to gain honour? For yourself or for the honour of the one who sent you?
If it is for him you would be humble to allow God to evaluate and decide, not you like in a Pharisee’s prayer begin to recount to him what you have achieved! Human beings regard the act but God sees the intention!
Therefore, choose to do God’s will and the Holy Spirit will give you discernment to understand the work of Christ! Secondly, do not speak to gain honour for yourself! Work for the honour of the one who sent you as a person of truth!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!